Be a Hero

"Hero recounts rescue of two girls from icy Edmonton river"

(Edmonton, March 31, 2013)

Good news for a change. Amazing news - a man and his dog risk their lives to save two little girls whose sled had slid down onto the river ice. With little thought for his own safety Adam Shaw pulled one little girl from the water, fell in himself, got out and, with help from his dog, pulled the second girl to safety. The lives of those two girls, their family and their friends will never be the same as a consequence of Adam's actions. What a gift to give - as the Gospel of John states, "greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15.13). How much more so when it is for complete strangers.

"Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words"

(St. Francis of Assisi)

This statement, attributed to St. Francis, is a reminder that our actions are often experienced as the clearest proclamation of our heart. It is one thing to state that little girls in icy rivers should be saved; it is another thing altogether to be in the frigid water with them. What Adam did was a very pure and true example of living out the Gospel - that is, living and expressing faith through actions of healing and renewal. Perhaps our world needs a little less pontificating, a few less sermons, a reduction of lectures, and a whole lot more local heroes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, visiting the sick or imprisoned... (see Matthew 25). As I've mentioned in past posts, the simple, day-to-day kindness and compassion that we exercise fulfills all that Christ asked of us (see Mark 12).

Such healing and re-creation can be experienced when each of us acts according to our abilities, in light of the need before us, with boldness and courage. Some of this renewal will be revealed in public ways, such as Adam's life-saving rescue on Sunday. Much of the wholeness of our world, however, will unfold in more subtle ways - building bridges through forgiveness, acceptance, and the growing of respect; recognizing our own prejudice and choosing to see beyond it; paying back evil with good (see 1st Peter 3). 

In light of the voice of the Old Adam/Old Eve, being a local hero presents some challenges. There will be times we will want to turn our back on the needs of others; sometimes it will be inconvenient to act out the Gospel, and some Christ-like actions frankly go against popular opinion and personal belief. But there you have it - that narrow path; if we are to be true to ourselves as creatures of God then we jump into the chilly waters, face the raging rapids and stretch our hand out to the weak, the vulnerable, the needy. 

So be a hero today: forgive someone, encourage someone, help change a tire, buy a cup of coffee, pull a child from the frozen waters of a swollen spring river... every act of kindness, seen or unseen, makes you a hero to someone :-)

I leave the last word to singer/philanthropist, Mariah Carey:

“when you feel like hope is gone,

look inside you and be strong

and you'll finally see the truth

that hero lies in you.” 

(Mariah Carey)

In the cold waters with you,

Pastor Bill

The storm swells

winds rage

waves pound

a light beams

into darkness

hope

strength

safety

God's light

shines

through

you

Beam brightly

pray

breathe

laugh

[First published April 3, 2013]